Long Beach's 'Queen of Volunteerism' Clara Andrews dies at 97

Clara Cook Andrews was a true Southern belle with her gracious, softspoken manners. She was often described as refreshing as a mint julep on a hot summer day.

But don't mistake her as a pushover because of her gentle nature.

"Mom was like steel wrapped in a velvet glove," said her daughter, Gayle Clock.

Clara, known as the Queen of Volunteerism in Long Beach during her more than 60 years working with nonprofit organizations, died Wednesday. She was 97.

Clara should be listed in Guinness World Records. It's hard to imagine anyone else topping her years of service.

In 1992 she received the coveted Woman of the Year award from the Rick Rackers, an auxiliary of the Assistance League of Long Beach. In 2008 she received the prestigious Helen D. Newcomb Award given to the member who best exemplifies the mission of the Junior League. She is an honorary and lifetime member of both organizations.

Clara was born in Hattiesburg, Miss., but moved with her family to New Orleans at age 6 months. The middle child in a family of five daughters, she loved growing up in New Orleans with the Mardi Gras and Southern culture.

"She was the perennial Southern debutante," her daughter said. "She used to say that no one should live their life without living some part of it in New Orleans."

She met Francis "Andy" Andrews, the love of her life, in an interesting manner. Andy lived in Pensacola, Fla. While Clara was visiting friends in Pensacola, they tried to arrange a blind date between the two.

Andy wanted nothing to do with a woman from New Orleans, so he told his friend to tell Clara that he had gone hunting. When Andy finally did meet Clara face to face, he asked her out. She responded: "Are you sure you wouldn't rather go hunting?"

Clara and Andy were married in January 1936, and had 72 wonderful years together until he died in 2008. Clara and Andy had two children, Gayle and Andy Jr.

The elder Andy joined the Navy to fight in World War II, and in 1947, the Andrews family moved to Long Beach. It was then that Clara got her first taste of volunteerism as PTA president at Los Cerritos Elementary School.

Here are just some of the highlights of Clara's resume: Executive director of the Community Volunteer office; administrator of the Children's Dental Health Clinic; executive director of the Long Beach Regional Arts Council (now the Arts Council of Long Beach); Red Cross board member; United Way chairperson; Long Beach Youth Home board member; vice president for the auxiliary at the Long Beach Children's Medical Clinic at Memorial Medical Center; Long Beach Chamber of Commerce leadership task force; and vice president of the Travelers Aid Society.

Clara's leadership skills are legendary.

"She had such a skill in getting people to do things," her daughter, Gayle, said. "She just loved being with people. When I was younger, she would drag me to teas and lunches. I would come home exhausted, and she would be euphoric."

Vickie Sullos remembers the day she, as Rick Rackers chair, and Marisa Autrey, editor of the Rick Racker Reporter, visited Clara at her home to inform her that she had been chosen as Rick Racker Woman of the Year.

"We carried an orchid plant and a bottle of champagne, traditional gifts given to the honoree," Sullos said. "Before we could say anything, and upon seeing us with goods in our arms, she immediately, in her humble and gracious way, went to get her checkbook to buy whatever we were selling. Of course, we finally blurted out the intent of our visit and opened the champagne."

Clara played bridge, worked in the Assistance League Thrift Shop, went to parties, meetings and events until about 2007 before she started slowing down. After all, she was only 93 then. She would have been 98 on Aug. 7.

Kathy Wade, incoming president of the Assistance League, remembers a poignant phone call she received from Clara in January.

"She was always so sweet. She called me dahling. She always calmed me down," Wade said. "In January she called me just to say she loved me. Then I found out she had called others to say the same thing. It was almost as if she knew something was going to happen to her."

In addition to her two children, Clara is survived by her sister, Jo Mary Thomason; four grandchildren; and five grandchildren.

Her sister, from whom she was inseparable to the point that some people thought they were twins, will be 100 in September.

A Celebration of Clara's Life will be held from 2-4 p.m. Monday at the Long Beach Yacht Club, 6201 E. Appian Way. In lieu of flowers, send donations to the Children's Dental Health Clinic, 455 E. Columbia St., Suite 32, Long Beach, CA 90806 or the Junior League of Long Beach, 3515 Linden Ave., Long Beach, CA 90807.